A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Boy family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 8627 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
swordJustice, and military honour
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à deux épées, passées en saut., acc. d'une rose en chef et d'un croiss. en p., le tout d'arg.”
ChampagneChampagne, c. 1663
Where the Boy Arms Were Recorded
Champagne
Map of France showing where the Boy arms are recorded
The Boy arms were recorded in Champagne, c. 1663.
Champagne made its money at its great trade fairs, where merchants from across Europe met. Wealth of that kind bought land, and land brought arms, so the region carries a lot of names.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Boy arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Champagne.
Origin & History of the Boy Family in France
The family name Boy has deep roots in the historical province of Champagne, where members of the family were documented as early as 1663. During this period, the name was closely tied to the social and agricultural landscape of northeastern France. Families in this region often derived their names from local nicknames or descriptive traits, and the name Boy likely emerged as a way to identify specific individuals within their local parish communities. As the family established itself in Champagne, they lived through a time of significant transition for the French monarchy and the rural economy. By settling in this area, the early members of the family became part of a long tradition of provincial life, contributing to the local culture and the development of the region during the seventeenth century. Their presence in the official records of the time highlights how families maintained their identity and status within the complex social structure of pre-revolutionary France.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. two bars and a canton sa”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Boy Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Boy arms are recorded
The Boy arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Boy arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Boy Family in England
The surname Boy is rooted in the linguistic traditions of medieval England, where it likely originated as a descriptive nickname. In Middle English, the term was often used to identify a young man or a servant, and it eventually transitioned into a hereditary family name as surnames became more common. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a presence in the historic city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Boy family were living and working within this northern hub during a period of significant social change. As residents of York, these early ancestors were part of a bustling urban community defined by its trade guilds and religious history. Their presence in such a prominent city suggests that the family was well-integrated into the local economy and social fabric of the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Boi
Old French term referring to a wood or forest.
This name
BoyA topographic name for someone who lived near or worked in a forest.
also spelled
Boi
Boye
Bois
Boyse
Related arms
Boivariant spelling
Booyvariant spelling
Boisvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Marne, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil de la commune de Champagne
Moréri, Louis, Le Grand Dictionnaire historique, ou le mélange curieux de l'histoire sacrée et profane, 1759
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
swordJustice, and military honour
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
swordJustice, and military honour
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
